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Scott Parker sees a "constant belief" within Fulham team

Scott Parker sees a
© Reuters
The Cottagers have won just twice all season and sit 18th in the table, eight points from safety.

Scott Parker insists he remains calm despite Fulham's current league position, and maintains the mood around the club is different to his own experiences of relegation as a player.

The 40-year-old earned the Football Writers' Association player of the year award for his performances in the 2010-11 season, despite West Ham finishing bottom of the Premier League having won just seven games all year.

Similarities can be drawn between his experiences with the Hammers and Fulham's current predicament, as they currently sit 18th in the table with just two wins to their name this season.

Despite securing impressive draws at Tottenham and against champions Liverpool, Fulham have struggled to find the net this season.

But Parker said the mood around the squad is completely different to the one he experienced at West Ham.

"I didn't have the feeling of what I feel here," the Fulham boss said.

"I didn't have the feeling that I feel every day on the training field, which is my main gauge.

"You guys (the media) will make their judgements on the results, like everyone will, and I understand that. But I see this group of players every day, I see the challenges we faced early on and where we needed to get to, and I see a constant belief.

"When you lose football matches and confidence is down in football squads, the first place you see it is on the training ground. That lack of energy, you'll often also find in-house bickering or problems inside the squad due to disappointment, people not happy with certain issues. The whole demeanour of players becomes very negative.

"I experienced that first hand as a player in a relegation team. I don't see that one bit here. That's been a main driver from me to not have that because I realised at the start of the season that this season was going to be a challenge for us."

The Cottagers have scored just 17 times in the top flight and have recorded fewer wins than Sheffield United, who remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League table.

Fulham host West Ham on Saturday, with David Moyes' men currently in fifth place, just two points behind Liverpool, but Parker is not feeling the pressure.

"I'm really, really calm. The current situation doesn't surprise me," the Fulham manager said.

"We're trying every day with the players, the players are trying as hard as they can. This was the position we're in and the predicament we're in.

"I've been at the football club now for two years. I see from last year to this year and the big jump that we've made in the division.

"I knew we would have to be comfortable in and around where we are at this present moment in time."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City23165246143253
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd24137450311946
3Leicester CityLeicester24144642261646
4Liverpool24117645321340
5Chelsea23116638241439
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham2311663428639
7Everton2211473430437
8Aston Villa22113836241236
9Tottenham HotspurSpurs23106736251136
10Arsenal24104103125634
11Leeds UnitedLeeds23102114042-232
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2486102532-730
13Southampton2385103039-929
14Crystal Palace2485112742-1529
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2451182530-526
16Burnley2375111729-1226
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2374122538-1325
18Fulham2339111931-1218
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2427151955-3613
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2332181537-2211

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